Tamarack Vermont Sheep Farm-- Opportunity Description -- June, 2024

Mature 150-acre 130 ewe Hay/Sheep Farm looking for experienced farm manager, or partner, with the option of building ownership over time, or farm business transfer/sale.

Tamarack Vermont Sheep Farm is looking for a Farm Manager/Business Partner to take the farm into its next phase. Our fantastic long-time farm manager is transitioning out in August, and a variety of possible roles could be available for the right candidate. These include:

• Managing the farm for the current owner/manager
• Acting as assistant manager
• Becoming a partner and future owner of the farm
• Serving as a farmhand

The farm has an assistant farm manager who will be staying on, is flexible regarding the evolution of his role, and is interested in seeing who else wishes to join the farm and what skills and interests they bring with them. 

Year-round work at Tamarack includes livestock feeding and handling in indoor and outdoor areas, flock health monitoring and husbandry, basic farm construction and maintenance, equipment operation and maintenance, and assessing and improving the quality of pasture and hayfields. The team manages the ins and outs of a production-scale livestock operation that is dedicated to animal welfare, meat and hay production, and caring for the working landscape. Tamarack has between 200 and 400 animals at any given time and manages approximately 150 acres of pasture and hayland. The farm is not conserved but could be conserevd by workig with our friends at VLT. 

Seasonal work includes:
• Summer: Rotational grazing using flexi net, hay-making including tractor operation and maintenance, high tensile fence maintenance, soil and forage sampling, grazing planning, selecting breeding stock and market animals, preparing lambs for market, trucking.
• Fall: Breeding for the subsequent winter’s lambing, fall grazing management, feeding round bales in outdoor paddocks, finishing market lambs and bringing to market.
• Winter: Infrastructure repair and equipment maintenance, planning for the following spring and summer, preparation for lambing. Lambing begins in February and is the most intensive season on the farm.
• Spring: End of lambing, managing ewe/lamb pairs, weaning, preparation for haying and grazing.

General Qualifications:
• Experience with sheep, lambing, grazing, grass, haymaking, equipment operation.
• Interest in practical and efficient operations, positive attitude, proactive, organized and neat.
• Ability to do outdoor and physical labor in a variety of conditions
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong work ethic and communication skills
• Valid Drivers’ license and reliable transportation
• Working cell phones
• Pluses: interest in or skill with equipment; experience with livestock, especially sheep; experience with software.
Terms of Employment:
• Full-time, with seasonal variation, but year-round.
• Basic housing is available at either a discounted rate or no cost.
• Salary commensurate with experience, with increases as experience is gained, or shared revenue structure for incoming partners or business purchasers.
• Benefits phase in and include retirement matching, health insurance, paid vacation.
• For the right candidate the work can begin immediately.

More Background about Tamarack Farm: Tamarack Sheep Farm is located in Corinth, Vermont, and we are dedicated to producing good food, conserving heritage breeds, and restoring and caring for land. We focus on two main heritage breeds: the Dorset Horn and the Tunis, which have been managed from the same bloodlines within our family for 100 years. We have participated with nonprofit partners in generic collection efforts, with genetic material from our flock stored in the Smithsonian Institute Washington DC. We rotationally graze our 150 ewes in the summer and use a combination of barns and out-wintering during the winter months. We make our own hay and use tractors and skid steers for hay making and winter feeding. After weaning, our lambs are fed a combination of grass, grain, and hay. Our primary product is meat, while hay is a secondary product. We own our farm in Corinth, Vermont, and lease other fields in the area. Tamarack is an established self-sustaining farm business with unique products, customers, and niche markets with unmet demand; new or good condition equipment; good infrastructure; and solid vendor relationships. More information can be found at http://tamarackvermont.com.

Possible collaborations with Redstart: Redstart is an associated organization. Redstart is a diversified natural resource consulting and contracting company focused on assisting people, organizations, and communities address natural resource issues. Redstart works to balance the needs of people with the need to maintain and enhance the ecological integrity of our forests, fields, and waters. Services include forest management, invasive plant treatment, riparian restoration, stream and culvert assessment, ecosystem restoration, and community land conservation. Our 1,100 non-industrial forest management clients collectively own 175,000 acres, and other clients include federal, state, and town government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Redstart is based in Corinth, Vermont and is made up of 18 full-time employees and 4-8 seasonal technicians. Shared roles between Tamarack and Redstart are possible. Redstart’s web site is http://www.redstartconsulting.com/.

Our goals, in everything we do, are to make the world a better place, to grow personally and professionally, to support one another, and to enjoy our work. Our intention is that Tamarack Farm can assist another farmer to realize their farming goals and dreams and we are open for creative ideas. 

Contact: Ben and Grace Machin, [email protected], 802-793-4250.